Leo never thought fear could feel like this. Not the kind that came when you missed a penalty, or when the crowd turned against you. This was colder. Sharper. The kind that wrapped itself around your lungs and made it hard to breathe.

It started on a Tuesday afternoon. He was walking out of training, phone buzzing in his pocket. At first, he thought it was just Daniel texting him a meme like always. But when he unlocked the screen, his stomach dropped so fast he felt dizzy.

A photo of his ...